The End of Illusions or… Should We Trust Anyone?

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disillusionment, experience, following Jesus, freedom, illusions, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, the dark night of the soul, the dark night of the spirit, thought life, true faith, trust, trusting God

Jesus did not commit Himself to them…, for He knew what was in man. —John 2:24-25
(Picture taken from http://utmost.org/the-teaching-of-disillusionment/)

Before God makes us permanent partakers of His divine nature who have been enabled to already enjoy eternal life in their spirits while living on this earth, He puts us through severe acid soapsuds that rob us of all illusion, both of what we thought we were and of what we might have seen in others. I am speaking of being stripped off from the ability to ever put man on a pedestal any more. Eventually, we see that, truly, only ONE is good, that is, our Father who is in Heaven.

Mercy Triumphs over Judgment

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darkness, enlightened, experience, eyes of the heart, God's love, Jesus Christ, life, light, living water, love, sin, spiritual power, T.A. Sparks, The Holy Spirit, the woman at the well

This is not the Fountain of Living Water, it is just Lily’s favorite “water bowl” on the balconies  😉
(Photo by Susanne Schuberth)

It is not ours to judge anyone, even though everything might tell against them. We can merely see how people look like, what they do and how they behave. And if they talk a lot, we will come to know a certain part of their hearts too. However, it is God alone who knows the depths of our hearts, the WHY of what we did and, maybe, still do. Therefore, we must be cautious to not quickly say, “Oh, I know, I know, been there, done that, such kind of persons I have come to know so often!”

Heaven and Hell – let’s talk about the latter

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darkness, eternal fire, heaven, hell, John Calvin, light, Peter Ustinov, unbelief

What is HELL like?
http://orig03.deviantart.net/545d/f/2013/156/6/b/heaven_or_hell_by_chronos73-d67xd75.jpg

“I imagine hell like this: Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine.”
― Peter Ustinov

A funny quote, indeed, yet what pictures do really come up in our minds when we hear someone talking about “hell”? I need to admit that I don’t know much about that fiery pit, not more than the Bible teaches. During the past centuries the Roman Catholic part of my family, my ancestors, had been threatened by the church that they would go to hell if they had committed severe sins that were not confessed before a priest. Note, Roman Catholic belief was that only members of their church could get to heaven back then since non-Catholics would be considered as heretics who would have no access to God – ever. Thank God, times have changed…

“Whoever is not with me is against me”

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church, false harmony, following Jesus, freedom, God's love, harmony, invisible church, Jesus Christ, living stones, peace, Satan, the devil, the new self, the old self

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Mt 7:26-17 ESV)
(Photo by Susanne Schuberth)

Truth unites and truth divides. If we think we can make a compromise between following Jesus and seeking to live in (false) harmony with everyone else around us, we will make a big mistake. Our Lord clearly said,

Being Made Perfect in Love – By Michael Clark and Susanne Schuberth

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beauty, eyes of the heart, following Jesus, glory, God's love, love, loveliness, Michael Clark, Oswald Chambers, rest, spiritual power, T.A. Sparks

Becoming as still as the surface of a lake…
(Photo by Michael Clark)

Oswald Chambers wrote,

The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring. (http://utmost.org/the-ministry-of-the-unnoticed/)

Who wants to experience the final death of self aka “Mystic Death”?

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being born again, darkness, Evelyn Underhill, experience, following Jesus, illumination, pain, psychology, purification, sanctification, the dark night of the soul, the dark night of the spirit, unbelief, unification with God, walking by faith

Clouds Obscuring the Source of Light
(Photo by Susanne Schuberth)

If there was another way to encounter the Living God and to stay in His holy and pure presence 24/7 here on earth and eternally too, I would have immediately said, “No, thank you, I am content as it is, no more death in my life needed.” Well, having been plunged into the second part of the dark night of the soul, the dark night of the spirit, in fall 2013, yet without interruption only one year ago, I today gave in after so many struggles with and against God since I saw it makes no sense to pray to God that I might have it my own way any longer. That means, if this death will continue to last for years in which I neither have any interest in God nor in spiritual things and in which God gives me more and more sickness and pain, then so be it. Period.